Would with present perfect progressive
Imagine you got something you'd been hoping for for a long time.
You get a new phone for Christmas
You: "Yes! I've been hoping something like this will/would happen!"
I have no qualms about using "I've been" here, but the second part of the sentence bothers me. "Will" sounds weird to me since it's already happened, but I'd never combine the present perfect with "would" in this type of situation. I could avoid this by saying "I was hoping something like this would happen", but I'd like to use the present perfect continuous. Can someone explain this to me, please? Thank you!
Top answer
Necrophagist "Will" sounds weird to me That's a good sign. It IS weird. Necrophagist Can someone explain this to me 'would' is used here as the future of the past.
- Necrophagist "Will" sounds weird to me That's a good sign.
- It IS weird.
- Necrophagist Can someone explain this to me 'would' is used here as the future of the past.
- It's like 'was going to'.
- It's perfectly normal.
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Necrophagist"Will" sounds weird to me
That's a good sign. It IS weird. 
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